WRFL 2021: Point Cook defeats Sunshine as Massimo D’Ambrosio fires

After a 0-2 start, the WRFL Division 1 club produced a character-building performance after suffering four first-half injuries.

Marcus Groves was among Point Cook’s best. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Point Cook rebounded from back-to-back thumpings and overcame a potentially crippling injury toll to score its first victory of the Western Region Football League Division 1 season on Saturday.

Western Jets-listed Massimo D’Ambrosio was best afield in his first senior game for the Bulldogs as they piled on 11 goals to two after quarter-time to topple Sunshine by 43 points, 12.19 (91) to 6.12 (48).

The visitors trailed by 15 points at quarter-time before kicking four goals to one in the second term and six goals to one in the last to secure a confidence-boosting win.

Point Cook, which is contesting its second season in the top flight after claiming the Division 2 flag in 2018, was on the receiving end of heavy defeats to Altona (83 points) and Werribee Districts (154 points) in the opening rounds.

Point Cook coach Brett Jacobs. Picture: Richard Serong

“It was definitely character-building,” Bulldogs coach Brett Jacobs said of the win over his former club.

“We knew we had a tough start to the year and thought we were competitive against Altona without any scoreboard reward. But against Werribee, as good as they were, we were really poor.

“It was good to get response. For us, being relatively new to Division 1, it was good to get a result early in the season.

“It was a bit of a war of attrition in the end. I’m not suggesting they (Sunshine) didn’t have injuries as well.

“But we’re thrilled to get a result and to run out the game as good as we did with no bench was just a super effort.”

The Bulldogs sustained four injuries, with Connor McKenzie (concussion), Henco Cronje (groin), Matt Poland and Alex Johnston (both hamstring) all going down in the first half.

But they defied the misfortune to move off the bottom of the table in a much-needed boost to their belief.

“I felt the longer we were in the game, the more confidence and belief we would get,” Jacobs said.

“We had a few blokes playing their first games of the year and they were a bit underdone, but they just kept working and working for us.

“From that perspective, regardless of the result, blokes pushing through injuries and cramps and those little things was something I was really proud of.”

Point Cook planned to play D’Ambrosio on a wing as NAB League clubs take a month-long break, but the teenager had to play as an inside midfielder as a result of the club’s injuries.

“He kicked two goals in the second quarter, which got us back into the game,” Jacobs said.

“He basically played on ball for four quarters without a rotation. It’s a pretty good effort for a 17-year-old kid.

“He’s a pretty special player. He could certainly be a hall-of-famer at Point Cook, but we hope he goes on and plays at a much higher level.”

VFL-listed midfielder/defender Nick Buykx, midfielders Marcus Groves and Tyler Kolyniuk and big man Andrew Robinson also fired.

Jacobs heaped praise of experienced defender and skipper Elliott Wood for his efforts on and off the field.

“His leadership with a young side, not just in the game, but during the week after what happened (against Werribee Districts) to get us up … the way he led the side was outstanding,” he said.

The Bulldogs will next host Caroline Springs in Round 4.